| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
3rd Oct 2025 |
Piraeus Greece |
Athens On My Own (OMO) |
|
4th Oct 2025 |
Adamas Milos Greece |
Adamas, Tripiti & Plaka |
|
5th Oct 2025 |
Rhodes Greece |
Sea Vibes & Greek Cuisine |
|
6th Oct 2025 |
Heraklion Crete Greece |
Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) |
 |
8th Oct 2025 |
Syracuse Sicily Italy |
A Glimpse of Noto |
|
9th Oct 2025 |
Naples Campania Italy |
Campi Flegrei Grand Tour |
|
10th Oct 2025 |
Civita- vecchia Italy |
Joy of Olive Oil tour |
|
11th Oct 2025 |
Livorno Tuscany Italy |
Pisa On My Own (OMO) |
 |
12th Oct 2025 |
Marseille Provence France |
Le Domaine de Fontenille & Lourmarin |
 |
13th Oct 2025 |
Monte Carlo Monaco |
Menton On My Own (OMO) |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I awoke just minutes before my six o'clock alarm, ready for my regular coffee pod in my brand new portable coffee machine. At 6:30 I had the full English breakfast for the fifth time this cruise, as the dawn broke over Piraeus. I stayed out on the aft terrace until I could photograph the first light.
Back in my stateroom, I finished packing for my move two doors along and took some clothes to the launderette. I then worked on my laptop until Leziel and May announced that my new stateroom was ready just after eight o'clock. It was easy to move my stuff just two doors down from 7075 to 7079. I then moved my laundry from the washer to the drier, but I couldn't get my key card updated until ten o'clock, when I put a second load of laundry on to wash.
At this point, I was able to leave the ship and walk to the Lidl store, where I bought some coffee pods for €3.49 (£3). I then backtracked to the metro station, where I bought two tickets for €2.30 (£2). I alighted at Monastiraki station as usual and progressed up through the Plaka district to the Acropolis fence. Here I turned on tracking and began my favourite Athenian walk around the base of the Acropolis. Having completed the circuit, I turned off tracking and descended to the metro station.
Back in Piraeus, the footbridge with escalators was back in service, but the lifts weren't. I walked back to the ship for a late lunch of cream of vegetable soup and the mixed grill from the buffet al fresco a la terrazza. I then slept for one hour. I spent the afternoon battling with the OU marking system. At 5:40 I spent ten minutes on my own in one of the hot tubs with the sun going down over the Saronic gulf.
At 6:30 I hosted the solo travellers with Social Hostess (SH) Sophie. Firstly Maddy (Madeleine) from New Jersey arrived, then Dana (pronounced Dayna) from Naples in Florida and finally Sylvia from Old Jersey. I had one glass of champagne to drink and lots of potato chips (crisps) to eat.
At 7:15 I led the three ladies down to the Grand Dining Room (GDR). Here the lady Maitre d' said that we could go up to the Toscana speciality Italian restaurant. I had my favourite bean soup, followed by the filet mignon steak with cheese crust. My dessert was the red berry tiramisu with biscotti on the side. I had just two glasses of sparkling water to drink.
At 9:30 I enjoyed the Welcome Aboard show time. This began and ended with the production company of eight dancers, seven musicians and four singers. Cruise Director (CD) Sammie sang one song as did Assistant Cruise Director (ACD) Kathleen who sang Adele's James Bond theme "Skyfall". Ioan the cocktail pianist played and sang "Easy like Sunday morning". I went to sleep at 10:45 having done eighteen thousand steps, equal to over seven miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at six o'clock without the need for an alarm and got up at 6:15. I had my first coffee pod of those I had bought at Lidl's the previous day. Just after seven o'clock, I had ham and cheese on slices of a toasted baguette as a continental breakfast al fresco a la terrazza as the dusk broke over Milos.
I snuck on to the eight o'clock tender away ready to explore the port of Adamas. Having taken pictures of the two old churches and some other buildings, I walked west to the lighthouse. Here I chatted to a German gynaecologist jogger from Hannover. He didn't know that there was a German wartime bunker here.
I struck north up the hillside through patches of obsidian, the black volcanic glass. I found a track that led me uphill to Tripiti with it's fine church with two huge towers. I continued to the old town of Plaka which looked a bit like Santorini or Mykonos. I photographed both the outside of the archaeological museum and the inside of the sand museum. The latter uses the multi-coloured sands to create art, a bit like Alum Bay sands on the Isle of White. I didn't climb up to the Venetian castle on the hilltop.
I then back tracked to Tripiti village and sidetracked down towards ancient Melos, which I photographed from above. I climbed back up to find the main road back to Adamas, where I turned off tracking.
The first car I tried to hitch hike with stopped but was going back to Plaka. In the event, I walked almost all the way back to the port, when a young Austrian couple gave me a lift. I just missed a tender, so had to wait ten minutes for the next.
Back on the ship, I lunched on the thick lentil soup and another mixed grill from the buffet. I then slept for an hour and a quarter. At four o'clock I touched base with the Destination Services desk.
At 5:30 Leon and John tried to set me up, but the projector had been left on overnight and had to be rebooted. Thankfully it woke up just before my start time of 5:45. CD Sammie introduced me and I gave my forty five minute talk on Rhodes.
Afterwards I adjourned to the Horizons observation lounge, but only Maddy turned up. We dined together in the GDR. I had the lobster bisque, the BLT salad and the sirloin steak. I was too full to have any dessert.
I picked up my escort assignment and went to the excellent Headliners production show, but guests kept talking and I had trouble staying awake. I particularly enjoyed the Bee Gees numbers. I went to sleep at 10:50 having done twenty one and a half thousand steps, equal to over eight miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:50 having slept for eight hours, after my tiring morning on my first visit to Milos. At eight o'clock, I had two croissants with cheese and smoked salmon al fresco a la terrazza. Back in my state room, I worked on my laptop.
At 10:45 I met guide Joseph and driver Ilias at bus number 39 for the Sea Vibes & Greek Cuisine tour ($259). We had thirty three guests to look after on the nearly one hour run south to the Argo restaurant in cHaraki. It had an open air veranda with views across the bay to Feraklos castle on the hill.
We began with thin slices of toast with a variety of dips: cod roe taramasalta, olive tapenade, fava split pea paste and chick pea hummus. Next we had the usual Greek salad with feta cheese. The first fish course was squid, which was a bit chewy. Next came individual Coquilles Saint-Jacques which were wonderful, but French, not Greek cuisine! The main course was sea bass with green beans and celery root mash. The meal ended with baklava with vanilla ice cream.
I had one glass of beer to drink, as the red wine was rather rough. I came away with a full bottle of Pellegrino mineral water. I dozed on the drive back via the Rhodes acropolis, but the Temple of Apollo was sheathed in scaffolding.
Back at the ship, I touched base with destination services and got my talk on Heraklion ready. At five o'clock, Leon and John set me up ready to give my forty minute talk with both videos at the end. At 6:15 I went to the Captain's Welcome cocktail party where I spoke to ACD Kathleen and solo travellers Sylvia and Maddy.
At 6:45 I moved down to the GDR, where I requested a sharing table for the first time on Oceania Vista. I was soon joined by elderly Marlene and her carer and neighbour Mary from near Albany the capital of New York State. We were then joined by Stephen an African American and his Filipino American wife Sophie. They live on Staten Island and he had worked for the New York Port Authority (NYPA not NYPD). I had the cream of pumpkin soup, the baby spinach salad, the prime rib of beef and the Elvis ice cream to eat.
At 9:30 I went to hear Steve Stevens, the musical comedian, who was rather funny. I particularly liked his musical impressions of people like David Bowie and Elton John. He was very English, using words like trousers, rather than the American pants. I went to sleep at 10:40 having done eleven thousand steps, equal to over four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to my six o'clock alarm, ready for my Lidl regular coffee pod. At 6:30 I had a toasted muffin with ham and cheese al fresco a la terrazza, as the dawn broke over Crete. At 7:30 I met guide Raphaella and driver Manos on bus number fifteen, for the Amazing Heraklion Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) town walking tour ($89).
We had a full coach of forty eight guests for the five minute run through the port to the bus stops outside the passenger terminal. Here we all got on an open top bus, together with another forty eight guests from bus sixteen. We did almost the full circuit from stops number one to number eleven, where we met town guides Mersini and Fanny. They gave us whisper head sets for the city walk.
At the first stop outside Saint Titus's domed church (a former mosque), we piled into a cafe to use their toilets. I bought a bottle of water, but most guests didn't. We stopped at the City Hall and St Mark's Basilica, both with Venetian loggia arcades. We saw the four lions fountain, when I was able to slip into the Tourist Information Office (TIO). We traversed the length of the market street, before being let loose.
I walked back to stop number eleven and caught the next bus back to the terminal. I then got on the wrong inter-port shuttle bus which took me to the TUI and Viking ships, but not the Oceania Vista. I had to take a bus back to the terminal and await the correct one.
Back on the ship, I had an early lunch of tomato soup and the mixed grill from the buffet al fresco a la terrazza, overlooking the TUI Marella Discovery 2 cruise ship with Viking Jupiter further away. The view from my stateroom was of the Hapag Lloyd Europa 2 in pole position by the cruise terminal, negating the need for the inter-port shuttle the other ships had to use.
I then slept for thirty five minutes before catching the shuttle to the terminal and getting back on one of the HOHO buses. I stayed on until the Natural History museum, where I started walking along the ramparts in the hot sun. I did the three miles around the southern fortifications to bus stop number eleven and the return bus to the port. Here I had to take the shuttle bus again to get back at 4:20. I then touched base with destination services to get the latest availability for both Syracuse (Siracusa) and Naples (Napoli). At 5:45 I spent ten minutes in a hot tub with comedian Steve and his partner. He said he was from Ipswich in Suffolk, so I mentioned Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines (FOCL) whose HQ is there.
At 6:30 I went to the solo travellers meet up with SH Sophie. We had regulars Maddy from New Jersey, Dana from Naples in Florida and Sylvia from Old Jersey. Then we had Grace the skier (Alma lookalike), Paula (Madge lookalike) and Eileen, who were travelling together. Next came Jack, Ruthie (SuBo lookalike), Marlene and Margrita from Luxembourg. The artist couple Pat Grillo and her husband Angelo also joined us.
At seven o'clock, Sophie and I led most of them down to the GDR. Sylvia sat with Grace, Paula and Eileen on a table for four, whilst Sophie & I sat with Maddy, Jack, Marlene, Angelo and Pat on a table for seven. I was asked to select the wine from a list of eight, so I chose the Bordeaux red and the New Zealand white for both tables which proved popular. I had one glass of each to drink. I had the cajun gumbo soup, the sirloin steak and the Humphry Slocombe ice cream to eat, but gave the salad course a miss. When I got back to my room, I had a telephone message saying that I had a reservation in the Toscana speciality restaurant with the Altmans, that I didn't know about.
At 9:30 I enjoyed the excellent Anchor Inn production show, set in an English public house. There were great songs by artists like Madness (Our House & Baggy Trousers) and Dexys Midnight Runners (Come on Eileen). Dan from near Chelmsford in Essex was able to use his original Thames estuary English accent to great effect. I went to sleep at 10:40, having done eleven thousand steps, equal to over four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke just before seven o'clock, having slept for more than eight hours, but it was now only six o'clock on Italian time. Having abluted with my Lidl regular coffee, I worked on my laptop. At 8:15 I met SH Sophie at the entrance to the GDR. Wardrobe Mistress (WM) Kathryn hosted a table for four with Eileen, Grace & Paula, whilst Sophie and I hosted a large table with Maddy, Marlene, Jack, Dana and later Deborah from Virginia. I had one egg Benedict, one egg Florentine and one egg Royale to eat. I had just one glass of sparkling water to drink.
At 9:30 Leon set me up to give my forty minute talk on Syracuse at ten o'clock. I had a fair few questions to field at the end. At 11:30 I had my first cheeseburger of this second Oceania Vista cruise. At 12:15 I slept for forty five minutes, before updating this blog.
At 13:30 John set me up ready to give my Naples port talk. It was only thirty five minutes long with one Rick Steves video at the end. At the end one gent said that I should include the underground tours as well. I spent the afternoon updating my Milos talk with my new photographs.
At seven o'clock I met Mr & Mrs Altman at the entrance to the Toscana speciality Italian restaurant. I had a small ragu pasta of the day, the minestrone soup, the filet mignon with cheese crust and the classic tiramisu to eat. I had just two glasses of sparkling water to drink.
At 9:30 I sat with Maddy to watch the excellent show of vocalist Lisa-Marie Holmes. She mainly sang musical theatre numbers, but finished inevitably with "Time to say goodbye". I particularly liked her disco medley. She was a belter, but I had trouble staying awake. I went to bed at 10:30 having done less than four thousand steps, equal to less than two miles of walking during the sea day.
I awoke to my alarm at 6:30 ready for my regular coffee pod. At seven o'clock I touched base with the chap at Destination Services, before having my two croissants with cheese & ham al fresco a la terrazza, as the sun came up over Ortygia island. Back in my stateroom, I worked on my CV port talk.
At 8:15 I met guide Paulo and drive Gianlucca at bus number nineteen. We had thirty two guests on the Glimpse of Noto tour ($79). It took three quarters of an hour to get there as one of the bridges was being repaired on the autostrada. We began at the triumphal arch at the east end of the main street, before walking along to the cathedral for a quick look. Two elderly guests had to turn back, just before we were let loose at 10:30 for one hour's free time. I continued along the main street to the far western end, before turning on tracking and wending my way back. Noto is a beautiful honey coloured city with many baroque churches and I don't know why I had never been there before.
Back at the ship at 12:35, I had a bowl of Thai soup and two small slices of pizza, as we were now in Italy. I forewent my siesta to revisit the ancient island of Ortygia, which was as delightful as I had remembered it. I went in both tourist information offices to collect their maps and leaflets. The ancient Greek temple, with Doric capitals on their columns, incorporated into the medieval cathedral, is spectacular. It is second only to the Cordoba mosque/cathedral for transcending two religions. I walked back along the gorgeous promenade past the Arethusa fountain and the Grand Hotel.
Back at the ship again, I got ready for my next port talk on Civitavecchia: the Port for Rome. At three o'clock John set me up, but fewer guests than usual came as we were still in port. At 3:30 I gave my forty minute long lecture with several videos. Back in my stateroom, I sat working with my Juliet balcony door open for the first time.
At 6:30 I went to the GDR and asked for a sharing table. After awhile Andie and her US naval husband Ted arrived. They live in Connecticut, but have a holiday home in Vermont. After another wait, finally Grace (Alma lookalike), Ruthie (SuBo lookalike) & Paula (Madge lookalike) arrived. I had met them at an earlier solos meet-up. I had the asparagus soup, the Parisian salad, the grilled salmon and the no sugar added strawberry tart to eat.
At nine o'clock I rushed out to see the passage through the Strait of Messina between Sicily and Calabria. At 9:30 I sat with Maddy, Marlene and Kathryn in the Vista Lounge theatre to hear comedian Steve Stevens, originally from Walthamstow. He began and ended with a musical number, but didn't do any more of his musical impressions. Again I had trouble staying awake, after another busy day. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock having done sixteen thousand steps, equal to over six miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to my alarm at six o'clock ready for my regular coffee pod. At 6:30 I had the full English breakfast al fresco a la terrazza as the dawn broke over Mount Vesuvius. Back in my stateroom, I had the Juliet balcony door open as we berthed in Naples. We then reversed out of the berth, turned around again, and berthed a second time, so we were late getting started.
At 8:30 I met guide Giuseppe (Joseph) and driver Pinot (Noir?) at bus number thirty one. We eventually had twenty four guests, but didn't get away until after nine o'clock. We drove east, rather than west, and went all the way around a rush hour ring road. We kept encountering ambulances and minor accidents, so it took an hour to get to the comfort stop at a service station. Our first viewpoint was overlooking the beautiful island of Ischia. Our second was at a Royal Palace on an island in a lake.
It was nearly noon before we got to our restaurant, the Tenuta Giardino. We began with orange juice, before having local red and white wine. The first course was a baked vegetable ball, followed by deep fried rice balls. Then came a pasta course, but no meat or fish was served. The meal ended with a doughnut, completing a disappointing four courses of carbohydrate. Out in the bar a small expresso coffee was served. The outside gardens were also disappointing, except for their grapefruit, orange and lemon trees.
I dozed on the way back to the ship, again going the long way round the ring road. I then slept for half an hour, before consulting the lady at Destination Services. I spent most of the afternoon updating my Livorno presentation.
At 5:30 Leon set me up ready to give my thirty minute talk. At 6:30 I bagged a small sharing table in the GDR, where I was sat with a couple from Phoenix, Arizona. He was a keen skier, but had to give up when he broke his pelvis in four places falling over in a car park. I had the carrot & orange soup, the small leaf salad, the sirloin steak and the Stilton cheese plate to eat.
At 9:30 I sat with Maddy, Marlene, Pat and Angelo in the Vista Lounge theatre, to hear CD Sammie's excellent Karen Carpenter cabaret. She sang all the famous hits, backed by the seven piece band. I went to bed at 10:45 having done six thousand steps, equal to just over two miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at six o'clock to my alarm ready for my regular coffee pod in my shower room. At 6:30 I had a continental breakfast of ham & cheese on a toasted muffin to eat as the dawn broke over CV. Afterwards I touched base at Destination Services.
At eight o'clock I was on the quayside planning to escort my third choice Thermal Baths of the Popes tour. However, my passport number hadn't been submitted to the authorities, so I couldn't go. Instead I asked for my second choice Joy of Olive Oil tour ($249) at 9:15.
Here I met guide Christina and driver Roberto at bus number twenty nine. We had twenty five guests to look after on the run out to the medieval town of Tuscania, which is in Lazio and not Tuscany! Christina led us from the west gate of the walled town through to the park on the east side.
Here we had our free time, so I headed in a clockwise direction around the top of the ramparts. I soon encountered a street plan and so backtracked to go in a better anticlockwise direction. I found the town hall in a square with beautiful views across the roofs of the old town. I climbed up to St Paul's Monastery on the site of the old castle, before following the walls around to our starting position.
We then had a half hour run to Canino, but we couldn't go the direct way on the narrow winding road and so had to drive north and then south again on the main roads. At the olive oil farm, we were split into two parties to go in the modern olive oil mill, where they were already crushing this year's harvest.
Outside again, we had a stall selling the olive oil, the local wines and the local asparagus, both whole and crushed. In the courtyard of the modern architect designed farm house, we had our lunch. Unfortunately three latecomers wanted to sit together, so Christina, Roberto and myself had to give up our separate table and sit with the guests. This did mean I got the local red wine after all. I was thus sat next to Grace the skier (Alma lookalike). We had the newly pressed olive oil on bread to begin, followed by some cold cuts with local baby tomatoes and asparagus. The main course was pasta with pesto and more baby tomatoes.
I slept on the way back to the ship and then again for half an hour in my stateroom. I spent the rest of the afternoon updating my Marseille port talk. At 5:30 Leon set me up ready to give my forty minute lecture at 5:45
At 6:45 I joined the solo travellers get together in the Horizons observation lounge. We had the usual suspects plus Dana and WM Kathryn from Hawaii. I had one glass of champagne to drink with my potato crisps.
At 7:15 we moved down to the GDR, where I was sat with dancers Emma & Glenn, artists Pat & Angelo, guests Marlene & Maddy plus SH Sophie. That was six hosts and only two solo travellers! I had the lobster bisque, the Greek salad, the rack of three lamb chops and the Humphry Slocombe speciality ice cream. At the end we sang Happy Birthday to Marlene and had a small piece of cake each to eat.
At 9:30 the party broke up and I decided not to go to the Horizons disco as I was too tired. I handed my tour report in, but there was no assignment waiting for me. I went to sleep at 10:15 having done ten thousand steps, equal to four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke naturally at six o'clock ready for my regular coffee pod. At 6:30 I had smoked salmon on Swiss cheese on a toasted muffin al fresco a la terrazza, as the dawn broke over the Tuscan hills inland. Back in my stateroom, I updated this blog.
I caught the 8:20 shuttle bus into the city and walked out to the central station. Here I caught the nine o'clock service to Pisa which took just fifteen minutes and cost just €2.80 each way (about £5 return). I walked along the Arno embankment to find the south eastern end of the wall walk.
I actually got to the second entry point, where I shelled out €5. I walked to the north western end of the ramparts with their fabulous view over Miracles Place (Piazza dei Miracoli), before retracing my steps all the way to the first entry point. I then caught the one o'clock train back to Livorno / Leghorn. I slowly walked back to the city centre, where I had to wait ten minutes in the waiting room provided for the inter-port shuttle to arrive.
Back at the ship, I had a fish burger and chips, but I didn't eat the bun / bap / roll provided. Back in my stateroom, I dozed for just fifteen minutes, before having a diet coke to drink as I updated this blog. At 5:45 I spent ten minutes in a hot tub empty of other guests, where someone had left an untouched cocktail. At 6:30 I went to the Horizons observation lounge, where I did a Texas Waltz line dance when the singer sang the Tennessee Waltz. Unfortunately no solos appeared, so at 6:45 I moved down to the GDR.
Here I asked for a small sharing table, where I sat with a couple from St John (not St John's) in New Brunswick, Canada. I had the potage soup, the tomato salad, the Maine lobster and the Humphry Slocombe speciality ice cream. This was called Harvey Milk & Honey Graham, the former was an assasinated San Francisco gay politician and the latter is an American breakfast cereal. At 9:15 I went to the excellent Our World production show, but a couple in my row talked throughout. I went to sleep at 10:50, having done twenty seven thousand steps, equal to eleven miles of walking during the day.
I awoke naturally at six o'clock, a full hour before my alarms. I had my usual regular coffee from my portable machine as I abluted. At seven o'clock, I had ham and cheese on a toasted muffin to eat as a continental breakfast, al fresco a la terrazza, as the dawn broke over the Provencal coast.
At nine o'clock I met British guide Denise and driver Jose at bus number twenty three. We had just twenty guests to look after on Le Domaine de Fontenille & Lourmarin all day wine & food tour ($329). It took one hour to drive to the Luberon hills, with the French driver only going wrong once.
At the Fontenille winery we tasted six wines: two whites, two roses and two reds. We lunched under the parasols on the terrace overlooking the gardens of the mansion. We had the cream of pumpkin soup, chicken with mash and apple tart with cream to eat. We were offered a different wine with every course, but I had just one glass of rose.
At the end of the meal, I whizzed around the house and gardens taking pictures. There was a short run to the medieval town of Lourmarin. Denise led us up to the church and down to the outdoor laundry (lavoir), before setting us free. I zoomed around the village taking more photographs. I slept for three quarters of an hour on the return to Marseille.
At 5:45 I spent fifteen minutes in one of the hot tubs. chatting to an Evangelical Lutheran pastoress. I told her that I had met Bishop Guy and his male partner on a previous cruise, whom she knew. At 6:45 I met Maddy in the Horizons observation lounge, before moving along to the Waves Grill. Here we began with the spicy Southern Fried Chicken (SFC) wings followed by a shared salad platter. I had the Carnivoro meat pizza and she had the Funghi mushroom one to eat. Sat near to us was CD Sammie, ACD Cathleen, SH Sophie and another staffer.
At nine o'clock I sat with Marlene, Maddy, Pat and Angelo in the Vista Lounge theatre for Lisa-Marie Holmes's second show. This featured songs by Adele, Celine, Diana, Dolly, Dusty, Shirley and Whitney. No need for surnames here! I went to sleep at 10:25 having done over ten thousand steps, equal to over four miles of walking during the day.
I got up at six o'clock ready for my regular coffee pod. At 6:45 I put some laundry on to wash. I then had smoked salmon and cheese on two croissants al fresco a la terrazza, overlooking the Principality Palace in the dark. I then put my laundry on to dry. At 7:45 Leziel and May came to service the stateroom, so I went up to the top deck to photograph the sunrise. Back in my cabin, I updated this blog.
At 8:45 I left the ship and walked to the SNCF railway station. Here I caught the 9:16 train to Menton, paying €7.80 (about £6.50) Arriving in the lovely seaside resort, I found a worker's portaloo to use. I promenaded along the front to the fort and port. I climbed up to the two churches on the hill, before following the main street back to the station. Unfortunately I had to wait almost one hour for the next train back to Monaco. Later my friend Dr Alvin Cohan (ex Lancaster University), who lives in nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer, wrote on FaceBook that this is the sunniest and most geriatric place in all France!
Back at the ship, I had a late lunch of the potage soup and the mixed grill al fresco a la terrazza, before sleeping for one hour. I then headed off to the huge multi-storey car park to take the escalators and lift up to the famous Oceanographic museum. I progressed through the cliff top gardens to the Principality Palace. I turned on tracking and came back through the old town. At Fort Antonie, I climbed down by the open air theatre to get back to the ship.
At six o'clock I spent ten minutes in an empty hot tub. At seven thirty (not six thirty owing to a Chinese meet up), I helped host the solo travellers with Social Hostess (SH) Sophie from Gloucestershire and Wardrobe Mistress (WM) Kathryn from Hawaii. We had newcomers Madeleine, Rene & Beverly, plus back-to-backers Maddy, Marlene, Grace (Alma lookalike), Eileen and Paula (Madge lookalike). I had one glass of champagne to drink.
At eight o'clock I led Rene, Beverly and Marlene down to the Grand Dining Room (GDR). I had the clam chowder soup, the Waldorf salad and the sirloin steak. We didn't have time for desserts as the Headliners show started at 9:30. Here I sat in the stalls with Beverly, Rene and Maddy, as Marlene went to sit in the gallery instead. I enjoyed the production show, which I was hearing for the third time on the Oceania Vista. I went to sleep at 10:40, having done twenty six and half thousand steps, nearly equal to eleven miles of walking during the day.
Guest Maddy (Madeleine) from New Jersey wrote:
"As we continue to cruise on the beautiful Oceania Vista,
I want to reiterate my appeciation for and compliments for both your hosting companionship
and enjoyable, informative enrichment presentations."
"Many thanks for sending these blogs.
I feel as if I've relived our entire 20 days,
as well as the prior cruise on which I didn't even travel.
Your skill in capturing detail and observation is truly astounding!
I know you take notes in your little book, but even so.
I can't recall when I've seen my own name mentioned so many times in so many circumstances.
And thank you for including the lovely picture of Marlene and me."
Guest Marlene from Queensland wrote:
"Loved all your presentations!"
"Thank U for your interesting talks. Well done."
"A pleasure to meet U with your knowledge talks and company."
CD Sammie wrote:
"Thanks for a great cruise, guests have loved and thoroughly enjoyed your presentations."
The highpoints of the cruise were:
* Going to Menton for only the first time since 1982, the day that Princess Grace crashed her car
* Exploring the medieval walled town of Tuscania in Lazio, not Tuscany
* A first visit to the Greek island of Milos in the Cyclades
* Walking the walls of Pisa for a second time
* Smelling the Campi Flegrei fumaroles
* Visiting Noto near Siracusa on Sicilia
* Seeing Lourmarin in the Luberon hills
Score card:
212 Cruises 56 Cruise ships (see below) 16 Cruise lines (see below) 10 Night cruise 9 Tables hosted 8 Dancers 8 Continental breakfasts 7 Port talks given 6 Tours ecorted 5 Musicians 4 Singers 4 Lunches on tour 3 Production shows 3 Full English breakfasts 3 Mixed grill lunches 3 Steak dinners 2 Guest entertainers (Steve Stevens & Lisa-Marie Holmes) 2 Fish lunches 2 Fillet mignon dinners 2 Toscana Italian speciality restaurant dinners 1 Guest speaker (Martin P. Lee) 1 New port (Milos)
1) "Rhodes: Island of the Knights" 2) "Heraklion: Capital of Crete" 3) "Syracuse: Home of Archimedes" 4) "Naples: the Port for Pompeii" 5) "Civitavecchia: the Port for Rome" 6) "Livorno: the Port for Tuscany" 7) "Marseille: Second City of France!
0) "Milos: Obsidian Island" 8) "Monaco: Home of Billionaires"
I have done four previous Oceania cruises:
1) Western Med on the Sirena
2) Canaries on the Marina
3) Biscay on the Marina
4) Adriatic on the Riviera
* Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines * Saga Shipping Company * Voyages of Discovery * Seabourn (Carnival) * Princess (Carnival) * Cunard (Carnival) * P&O (Carnival) * Celebrity (RCCL) * Silversea (RCCL) * Regent SS (NCL) * Oceania (NCL) * Marella (TUI) * Ambassador * Azamara * Crystal * Viking
Black Prince Black Watch Boudicca Balmoral Braemar Borealis Bolette Silver Whisper Silver Spirit Silver Wind Silver Muse Silver Moon Silver Dawn Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Eclipse Celebrity Edge Celebrity Apex Oceania Vista Oceania Sirena Oceania Marina Oceania Riviera Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Saturn Saga Rose Saga Ruby Saga Sapphire Saga Pearl II Quest for Adventure Spirit of Adventure (Old SofA) Spirit of Adventure (New SofA) Spirit of Discovery Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) Queen Elizabeth (QE) Queen Victoria (QV) Queen Mary 2 (QM2) P&O Arcadia P&O Aurora P&O Oriana P&O Iona Azamara Quest Azamara Journey Crystal Symphony Crystal Serenity Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Sojourn Ambassador Ambience Ambassador Ambition Regent Seven Seas Mariner Regent Seven Seas Splendor Caribbean Princess Sapphire Princess Marella Explorer VoD Discovery